Class of 2017
Fruita Monument High School and the Fruita Monument Hall of Fame Committee are proud to announce the inductees for our inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2017. 1964 Wrestling Team – Despite being the smallest high school in the upper division classification, the 1964 wrestling team, led by head coach Jack Pollack and assistant Lou Grasso, won Fruita High School's first ever state championship. The team captured the Colorado Upper Division State Championship with strong performances from Brothers Joe and Amadeo Silva who captured state titles at the tournament. Teammate Jim Hoisington finished second, while Clyde Etcheverry and Archie Silva finished third. The team went 14-1 in duals that season and won all three tournaments they competed in. Coaches: Jack Pollack, Lou Grasso. Managers: Bernard (Bernie) Goss, Bob McFarland. Team: Melvin Barbee, Melvin Crider, John Trujillo, Jim Hutchinson, Joe Silva, Amadeo Silva, Clyde Etcheverry, Archie Silva, Jim Hoisington, Jerry Gobbo, Lynel Bortles, Vernon Greager, Mike Page, David Young, Harv Heiny, Arthur Sharp. Jack Pollock – A 1944 graduate of Fruita Union High School, Jack Pollack came to Fruita High School in 1950 where he coached wrestling, track and golf. Jack took over as the Wildcat’s head wrestling coach in its inaugural season in 1951 and remained the head coach until 1976. During his 25 seasons, the Wildcat wrestling team flourished winning Fruita’s first state title in any sport in 1964 (they also finished second in 1963, 1970 and 1976). Jack coached 25 individual state champions and more than 50 state placers during his career and was named the Colorado High School Activities Association High School Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1976. Jack sponsored many clubs including the “F” Club and taught physical education and science at Fruita High School and Fruita Monument High School from 1950 until his retirement in 1982. Jose (Joe) Silva – A 1965 graduate of Fruita High School, Joe Silva is one of Fruita’s most accomplished athletes. As a two year letterman in football, Joe led the Wildcats at quarterback to state championship appearances in 1964 and 1965. As a three time letterman in baseball, Joe played in the 1964 state championship and led the Wildcats in batting with an average of .457 that season. Joe captured three individual state titles in wrestling and led the 1964 team to Fruita’s first state championship. Joe remains Fruita’s only three time state wrestling champion. After high school, Joe served with the Army in Vietnam where he earned a Bronze Star. Following his service, Joe attended the University of Northern Colorado and Adams State College where he earned a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree in education. Joe continued to serve as a coach and teacher at Fruita Middle School for 29 years before retiring in 2001.
James (Jim) Tomlinson – A 1957 graduate of Fruita High School, Jim Tomlinson is a track and field legend. In the 1957 state track meet, Jim won the 440 yard dash by 17 yards, smashing the state record in all classifications with a time of :49.2 (a record that has never been broken). Jim also finished second at the state meet in the 220 yard run that year. In 1956, as a junior, Jim won a state title in the 880 yard run. Jim held school records in the 220, 440 and 880 yard runs when he graduated. Jim’s career at Fruita High school was not limited to track, he also played basketball all four years and was the team captain his senior year. He was also very active in many clubs. As a member of the “F” club, he served as vice president and was active in FFA, serving as treasurer and president. Jim was also the junior class vice president and senior class president. After high school, Jim followed his passion and went on to a successful ranching career. He was named Stockman of the year is 2007 and Grand Marshall of the Fruita Fall Festival in 2008. Bill Noxon – As a legendary coach and biology teacher at Fruita High School from 1952-1966, coach Noxon led the Wildcats to three consecutive Class AA runner-up finishes in 1963,1964 and 1965 before winning Fruita’s first and only state championship in football in 1966. The 1966 team entered the state playoffs a perfect 9-0, giving up only 14 points the entire regular season. The Wildcats went on to defeat Yuma 28-0 in the state championship. Coach Noxon was also the Wildcats head baseball coach for twelve seasons and led the team to multiple conference championships and three state runner-up trophies. In 1966 he was named the Colorado Scholastic Coach of the Year. Following his career at Fruita High School, coach Noxon went on to coach at Grand Junction High School for four seasons where they finished second in state in Class AAA in 1969. He compiled an overall prep coaching record of 133-54-4. His football coaching success led him to Western State College where he won eight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships during his career from 1971-1985. Coach Noxon is also a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, Fort Lewis College Hall of Fame (as a player and member of the 1949 team) and the Western State College Hall of Fame. Lowry Bishop – Lowry Bishop dedicated himself as both a coach and social studies teacher to the students and athletes of Fruita High School and Fruita Monument High School from 1961 to 1992. Coach Bishop mentored student athletes as an assistant football coach for six years and was a member of the 1966 coaching staff that won the Wildcats only football state championship. He was also a member of the football staffs that finished as state runner-ups in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Coach Bishop served as an assistant basketball coach for five years from 1961 to 1966 and was the head coach through the 1966 to 1970 seasons. He coached baseball for ten seasons and was a coach on the 1970 Class AA State Championship team. He also served as the head boys and girls tennis coach for 18
seasons until his retirement in 1992. In 1990 Mr. Bishop was named the Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.
James (Jim) Tomlinson – A 1957 graduate of Fruita High School, Jim Tomlinson is a track and field legend. In the 1957 state track meet, Jim won the 440 yard dash by 17 yards, smashing the state record in all classifications with a time of :49.2 (a record that has never been broken). Jim also finished second at the state meet in the 220 yard run that year. In 1956, as a junior, Jim won a state title in the 880 yard run. Jim held school records in the 220, 440 and 880 yard runs when he graduated. Jim’s career at Fruita High school was not limited to track, he also played basketball all four years and was the team captain his senior year. He was also very active in many clubs. As a member of the “F” club, he served as vice president and was active in FFA, serving as treasurer and president. Jim was also the junior class vice president and senior class president. After high school, Jim followed his passion and went on to a successful ranching career. He was named Stockman of the year is 2007 and Grand Marshall of the Fruita Fall Festival in 2008. Bill Noxon – As a legendary coach and biology teacher at Fruita High School from 1952-1966, coach Noxon led the Wildcats to three consecutive Class AA runner-up finishes in 1963,1964 and 1965 before winning Fruita’s first and only state championship in football in 1966. The 1966 team entered the state playoffs a perfect 9-0, giving up only 14 points the entire regular season. The Wildcats went on to defeat Yuma 28-0 in the state championship. Coach Noxon was also the Wildcats head baseball coach for twelve seasons and led the team to multiple conference championships and three state runner-up trophies. In 1966 he was named the Colorado Scholastic Coach of the Year. Following his career at Fruita High School, coach Noxon went on to coach at Grand Junction High School for four seasons where they finished second in state in Class AAA in 1969. He compiled an overall prep coaching record of 133-54-4. His football coaching success led him to Western State College where he won eight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships during his career from 1971-1985. Coach Noxon is also a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, Fort Lewis College Hall of Fame (as a player and member of the 1949 team) and the Western State College Hall of Fame. Lowry Bishop – Lowry Bishop dedicated himself as both a coach and social studies teacher to the students and athletes of Fruita High School and Fruita Monument High School from 1961 to 1992. Coach Bishop mentored student athletes as an assistant football coach for six years and was a member of the 1966 coaching staff that won the Wildcats only football state championship. He was also a member of the football staffs that finished as state runner-ups in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Coach Bishop served as an assistant basketball coach for five years from 1961 to 1966 and was the head coach through the 1966 to 1970 seasons. He coached baseball for ten seasons and was a coach on the 1970 Class AA State Championship team. He also served as the head boys and girls tennis coach for 18
seasons until his retirement in 1992. In 1990 Mr. Bishop was named the Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.
